New Year’s Day marks an exciting event for NHL betting fans: the NHL Winter Classic.

Why is it special? Well, that isn’t too hard to figure out. An outoor game at Wrigley is pretty friggin’ cool. But it also has special value to NHL betting fans specifically, because it’s a rare “one big game” event in hockey that mirrors NCAA bowl game lines or Super Bowl betting.

If you want to bet online on the game (Why not? It’ll be a doozie), check out these need-to-know facts before hitting the offshore sportsbook (in random order):

1. Outdoor games tend to be low-scoring affairs. If you’re making an over/under pick on this one, remember that the cold weather seems to freeze up the snipers’ hands. A 4-3 score in the 2003 Hertiage Classic between Montreal and Edmonton isn’t bad, but it’s no barn burner. Neither was the 2-1 shootout win for Pittsburgh over Buffalo last year that featured one regulation goal for each team.

2. No home team has won an outdoor NHL regular season game. Yeah, the sample size is two games, but it’s a fact. Maybe all the hoop-la is distracting for the home team? Beware, NHL betting players.

3. This will be a good — and close — game. The Wings remain a powerhouse and the Hawks have won a franchise-record nine straight. That’ll make for some highly skilled, fast play that will be a real treat for the 40,000-plus in attendance. It also makes for a tough online betting choice.

4. Detroit won the first two meetings with Chicago this season. The Hawks have caught fire since then, but recent history still matters to online sports betting players.

5. This is a “big game,” and Detroit has a massive advantage in big-game experience. The Hawks will be fired up, but they’re still young and, possibly, green. The Wings have boatloads of playoff experience. Since the Winter Classic should have a playoff-like atmosphere, I’m betting on Detroit to win.

The Sens are tanking. And tanking. And teasing NHL betting fans by winning a game or two. And tanking again.

Online sports betting players have to wonder if, believe it or not, Ottawa will be a seller at the trade deadline. They’d certainly have some nice chips to move. While they’re unlikely to let Dany Heatley go, and they won’t get much interest in Daniel Alfredsson (he’s old-ish and, more importantly, he’s cursed with that losing, choking-in-big-games virus long afflicting the Sens), Jason Spezza could be a hot commodity.

NHL betting fans would definitely take notice if Spezza went to a contender at the deadline. Who are the most likely candidates? And would NHL betting fans need to start picking that team more often? Let’s have a look:

MONTREAL - they were big players in the Sundin sweepstakes, but their depth at centre suddenly doesn’t look so bad, with Robert Lang playing better. Plus, Ottawa isn’t likely to trade within the division.

NY Rangers - They’d probably have to dump salary first (how about shipping Redden back to Ottawa?), but they’d certainly love having Spezza in the lineup. He’d inject them with serious offence and make them a legit Cup contender again.

Chicago - They were in the running for Sundin, but may not have the long term spending room to commit to Spezza. They’re more likely to pursue a rent-a-player.

Calgary - They were once mentioned as players for Sundin. Since they’re already reportedly shopping Mike Cammalleri, maybe they could swap him for Spezza. NHL betting fans would have to give Calgary some respect if Spezza was there feeding Jarome Iginla.

It’s a busy slate in the NHL tonight, but hockey betting fans will likely be choosing between two doozies: Flyers vs Canadiens odds and Sharks vs Red Wings odds. The latter is pretty appealing, as those two squads have combined for a 45-9-7 record. Quite frankly, that’s fucking absurd.

But I’ll especially be looking forward to the early game. Why? Underrated superstar Mike Richards. After a breakout campaign last year, the playmaking center is firing on all cylinders in 2008. Richards, who gets it done at both ends of the ice, has 13 points in his last seven games (including two short-handing goals, giving him a ridiculous six points while killing penalties this season).

Whether you’re a fan of NHL betting or just a hockey nut, check out Richards and the Flyers tonight. Crosby and Ovechkin get most of the publicity, but this guy is having a fantastic year.

So NHL, what have you contributed to the world of sports this year? Sportsbook odds indicate that it’s not a whole hell of a lot, which sucks.

I’m not talking to you hardcore NHL betting fans. Right now, I’m talking about the NHL on a global sports scale.

For example: baseball had Roger Clemens and his trip to congress, the NFL had Brett Favre, the Olympics had Michael Phelps and Usain Bolt, baseball had the Tampa Bay Rays and basketball had the Lakers-Celtics.

Those who bet online know that there haven’t been that many memorable, stay-with-you-until-2010-type of moments. Sean Avery’s sloppy seconds come to mind. Maybe Sidney Crosby’s first Stanley Cup Finals, but that guy lacks personality so much that nobody really empathizes with him. How about Jonathan Toews crazy goal? Again, hardcore hockey fans will remember but general sports fans don’t care too much.

The bottom line is the NHL has put together a better product on the ice but it still lacks story lines, personalities and off-ice excitement.

Finally NHL betting fans have the announcement they’ve been waiting for.

And the winner of the 2008-2009 Mats Sundin Soap Opera Sweepstakes is…

POKER STARS!

Just kidding. Well, not really. Poker Stars has really milked the Mats ad campaign for all its worth. But the true winner of the Sweepstakes isn’t…quite…decided…yet. We do know (we think) the choice is down to two teams — the Vancouver Canucks and New York Rangers — and that Mats could make the final call as early as today.

How will a Sundin acquisition affect NHL futures betting? Let’s break down Sundin’s potential impact on the Canucks, Rangers and, most importantly, online sports betting players.

IF SUNDIN CHOOSES VANCOUVER…he’ll lead some NHL betting fans astray — likely die-hard Canucks fans who can’t get it through their spacey, rain-soaked heads that their team is oh-so-overrated. Sure, Mats would have a major Swede connection, joining the Sedin Twins, Mattias Ohlund and Alex Edler. But even adding Mats wouldn’t give the Canucks what they need to beat the NHL odds against juggernauts like San Jose, Detroit or even the emerging Chicago Blackhawks.

Who would Sundin play with? The Sedins? Not so fast. Would Vancouver really shove Henrik to the wing, just like that? And Mats hasn’t played wing since he was a rosy-cheeked Quebec Nordique with a Jofa astronaut helmet. Chances are he’d line up with Pavol Demitra, who couldn’t light the world on fire with Marian Gaborik at his side in Minny, and/or Kyle Wellwood…and how’d that work out last time? Anyone looking to bet online on NHL futures odds shouldn’t let a potential Sundin-to-Vancouver deal affect them. Steer clear of the Canucks.

IF SUNDIN CHOOSES NEW YORK…the situation becomes a bit more interesting. Like the Canucks, the Rangers offer Mats some countryman comfort, with Markus Naslund, Henrik Lundqvist and Fredrik Sjostrom on the roster. New York also has a deeper, more seasoned (and yes, older) forward group consisting of guys who can play multiple positions, like Scott Gomez, Chris Drury and Nikolai Zherdev. Throw Naslund into the mix, likely with Sundin, and the Rangers would have two legit scoring lines. They’d also be a nightmare for other teams in the faceoff circle with both Sundin and Drury taking draws.

NHL betting players shouldn’t go overboard — after all, Mats is 38 and may take a while to get his legs — but they should take a good look at the Rangers Stanley Cup odds. They have the goaltending for a deep playoff run and Mats could make a difference. He wouldn’t make the Broadway Blueshirts a frontrunner by any means, but he’d make things interesting.

IF SUNDIN CHOOSES ANOTHER TEAM…well, he’ll knock everyone’s socks off. And we’ll do this dance again to break down some more NHL futures odds.

A snow blower? Really? If that didn’t throw NHL betting fans for a loop, nothing can.

Where do we begin with you, Mr. Sakic? It was bad enough that you were doing yard work when you were already on injured reserve with a herniated disc; typically, backbreaking outdoor labor isn’t part of the rehab regimen. Secondly, you’re rich. Where was your maid? Or army of maids? Or army of specialized snow maids who ice fish and sleep outdoors?

Most of all, how on earth did Sakic manage to chop his hand to mush in a snow blower? Sure, accidents happen. Just ask this kid:

But why is it that athletes always seem to be the ones suffering bizarre injuries? Talk about a headache for sportsbooks. How can a handicapper predict that a star player will miss time due to a “snow blower accident”?

Online betting fans have seen plenty of these incidents before. Clint Barmes fell down a staircase carrying deer meat. Raise your hand if a buddy of yours has ever done that. Glenallen Hill famously fell through a table after waking up from a spider-themed nightmare. Punter Chris Hanson hacked open his leg after Jags coach Jack Del Rio put an axe and tree stump in the locker room as a symbol of “slow and steady work.” Former Toronto Maple Leaf Mikael Renberg almost died of an infection in his finger from tying his skates – just months after cutting his hand in a boat propeller accident.

These guys (well, not the baseball players) are supposed to be the pinnacle of fitness, yet they they’re more brittle than the Golden Girls. Go figure. Perhaps the best injury of all: Joel Zumaya injured his throwing arm playing too much Guitar Hero. How many crazed Guitar Hero fans, who play all hours of the night, have suffered that injury? None that I know of.

Burnaby Joe, your herniated disc alone did enough damage to Colorado Avalanche odds. So maybe you and your brittle athlete buddies should stick to your respective sports and leave the heavily lifting to us Average Joes.

Off the ice, the NHL is a boring, personality-less league. So who better to comment on the league’s one, outspoken personality, Sean Avery, than the league’s most stoic goaltender, Martin Brodeur.

If there were sportsbook odds on this, obviously Brodeur would be a heavy favorite to disagree with anything Avery does, especially after Avery did some crazy screening on Brodeur in the playoffs that the league immediately had to amend the rule book for.

Basically, Brodeur said the NHL should suspend for his unprofessional comments. Thanks, Martin. The NHL’s got you covered. We’ll see you soon when you get back and bring your boring personality back between the pipes for the most boring team in the league.

Sportsbook odds don’t indicate big things for the Devils this year. Enjoy Marty.